A Rowan County deputy survived a terrifying highway crash Tuesday night after a fellow officer pulled him from a burning patrol vehicle along N.C. Highway 152 near Daugherty Road, according to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities said two deputies were rushing to an emergency call with lights and sirens activated when one patrol vehicle collided with the other on N.C. 152. The impact sent one cruiser off the road and into a nearby field, where it caught fire. Before medics arrived, the second deputy pulled the injured officer from the flaming vehicle.
Everyone hurt in the crash was taken to a hospital. Officials described the injuries as serious but not life-threatening, and the scene remained under investigation Tuesday night.
Scene and response
Fire crews and emergency medical personnel moved in quickly, securing the crash site and treating the injured deputies. In its Facebook post, the sheriff's office said the injuries "are believed to be serious but not life-threatening."
Investigators have not released the names of those involved. Officials said further details will come as the North Carolina Highway Patrol works through its crash investigation.
Past incidents highlight risk
The crash is the latest reminder of how dangerous high-speed responses can be for law enforcement on Rowan County roads. A deputy hospitalized after medical emergency was reported in November, and WSOC-TV covered a December rollover crash that left another deputy hurt. In those earlier cases, as in Tuesday's incident, state troopers led the crash investigations and outcomes varied, even when deputies were on their way to help others.
The Rowan County Sheriff's Office identified Sheriff Travis Allen as the official posting the information about Tuesday's crash and reiterated that the North Carolina Highway Patrol will lead the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office.
